Idols

Over the past few weeks a few people have talked about meeting idols. Some people talked about how they'd like to meet their idols. The others did meet their idol. For some it was a good experience. For others, not so much.

So, since I had the opportunity to meet my idol many years ago, I thought I'd talk about that experience a bit. But first, a bit of back story.

When I was 16, I felt alone in the world. I wasn't a jock, a smart kid, or a pretty boy. I didn't feel like I fit in anywhere. I didn't really have any friends. The only talent I had was music. Music was my life and the only thing I really wanted to do. I had no aspirations to get a "real job". I just wanted to play music.

So, when I was watching some music videos on TV, I came across a video for a song called "Cubically Contained" by the Headstones. For those of you who've never heard of them, they are a Canadian band who released their first album in 1993 and played together until 2003, when they split up. The song was so dreary and depressing, I was able to relate to it. I fell in love with it and bought the album, and then fell in love with every song on that album.

I listened to it over and over again, relating to songs like "Reno", "Picture Frame of Rage," "Pretty Little Death Song." Finally I had discovered that I wasn't alone. There were people who felt the same way I did.

I bought their two previous albums and listened those to death. I'm pretty sure I wore out the tapes eventually. (Yes, I come from the era of the cassette tape).

So, skip ahead three years. I am now in college (for a very brief period of time) and the headstones are slated to play the campus bar, The Wall. Of course, I got tickets.

So, here I am, standing in the back of the bar, buzzed from drinking a lot of beer, and chain smoking while I watch the opening act, Danko Jones. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a tall guy wearing a black trench coat. So, I glance over then turn my attention back to Danko. Then, about a minute later, my alcohol-soaked brain clues in to who is standing next to me. Hugh Dillon.

Hugh Dillon is the former lead singer of the Headstones and current singer of The Hugh Dillon Redemption Choir. He has also acted in the movies Hard Core Logo, Down and Dirty, Trailer Park Boys: The Movie, as well as a few otehrs. He even read for a part in Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown, but lost out to Michael Keaton. He starred in a mini-series last year called "Durham County" and is the current star of the Candian television series "Flashpoint."

Now, you must understand, as lead-singer/songwriter of the Headstones, this man was a god to me. This was the guy who was writing all those lyrics I was relating to. And here he was standing two feet away from me. I was awestruck.

So, after summoning all the courage I had (I don't know why I was so nervous. At this point I had already been playing music on stage. As a matter of fact, by this point, the largest gig I had played was in an arena in front of almost 2,000 people). But I was terrified to tell this man how much his music had meant to me. Probably because in his songs and on stage, he didn't seem to be very approachable. He was known for spitting on audience members, as well as throwing lit cigarettes into the croud. He acted like a total asshole on stage.

But, I did manage to summon the courage to walk up to him. And, as best as I can remember, I said, "Man, I am a huge fan. Your music has meant a lot to me over the past few years, and you guys really influenced me as a musician."

Now, I expected him to tell me to fuck off. But he looked at me and said, "Thanks, man. It means a lot to me when I hear that. I really like hearing that my songs help people get through tough times." Then he bought me a beer and went to prepare for his performance.

When the Headstones took the stage, I pushed my way to the front. I was so close I could have reached out and touched Hugh. And during the show, he spit on me.

So, I will now reprint the lyrics of one of my favourite Headstones songs. This is from their first album "Picture of Health" and it's entitled "Cut."

You cut my hand on a razor man like in response to a request
We talked about living
Worried about dying
There's only one move we got left

Well it just goes down forever
Hatred it'll never die
And man you're talking crazy
The whole thing just escapes me
Like a suicide let it ride

I built a dam out of hatred man
Blocking out everything that I knew
I couldn't help thinking as my mind ceased blinking
There must 've been some light that got through

Well it just goes down forever
Hatred it'll never die
And man you're looking nervous
And you claim you don't deserve this like suicide
Let it ride

You cut my hand on a razor man
Smoke a long cold cigarette
We talked about living
Worried about dying
There's only one move we got left

Well it just goes down forever
Rolling down my spine
And man you're looking nervous
And you claim you don't deserve this like suicide
Let it ride